News & Events

BEWARE OF THE SUN, WARNS DR. KOSTER

As summer begins, when the sun's unltraviolet rays are at their strongest, it is important to wear the appropriate protective gear. Overexposure to these rays can burn people’s corneas and even cause painful temporary blindness as well as contribute to longer term vision problems.Several scientific studies* indicate that years of exposure to the sun without eye protection can seriously damage a person's eye, potentially contributing to cataracts and macular degeneration. A lesser known, but more immediate, risk is that of sunburnt eyes. People with light colored eyes are more at risk for this condition.

A mild case of sunburnt eyes feels like grit stuck in the eyes. Patients with extreme cases describe the feeling as having their eyeballs on fire! Patients who experience such severe symptoms should immediately see an eye doctor, such as the experienced doctors at NY Vision Group.Typical treatment is cool wet compresses and artificial tears. Anti-inflammatory drops can also be used to reduce swelling and eye pain, and affected patients should try to stay out of the light, remove contact lenses if they wear them and avoid rubbing eyes.

"It's really important for people to remember to wear their sunglasses during the summer, even if its cloudy, " says Dr. Harry Koster, Medical Director of NY Vision Group. "Maybe a little redness from a sunburn on the arm doesn't seem like a big deal, but the skin of your cornea is extremely thin and is far more sensitive."

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)* recommends the following tips to protect your eyes from damage from the sun:

NY Vision Group is pleased to announce that for the seventh year in a row, Dr. Harry Koster has been named a New York Super Doctor. You can read more about his accomplishments in the May 13, 2018 special supplement to the New York Times. The selection process for Super Doctors is a rigorous multi-step process. First Super Doctors creates a pool of candidates based on nominations from local physicians (doctors may not self-nominate). Super Doctors' research staff also contributes to the pool based on its "star search credentials". Candidates are evaluated based on multiple indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, including experience, professional activities, leadership positions, board certifications, honors and awards, and other outstanding achievements. Then nominees are then grouped into specialties and reviewed by a blue ribbon panel made up of the doctors who, in each specialty, received the highest scores in the nomination and evaluation steps. Each panelist reviews and evaluates a list of nominees in their area. Final selection to the Super Doctors list is based on the total points a doctor receives from the nominations, research and blue ribbon panel review steps. Only the highest-scoring doctors are included in the Super Doctors list. Here is a link to his Super Doctors webpage: http://superdoctors.com/new-york-metro/doctor/Harry-R-Koster/37f65e74-ecd5-419b-8ffc-f2fb52b3959e.htm

NEW LIGHT ADAPTIVE CONTACT LENSES APPROVED.

According to the American Adademy of Ophthalmlogy, the United States FDA has approved Johnson & Johnson's new light-adaptive contact lenses. These lenses include a photochromic filter that adjusts to the amount of light entering the eye. Therefore these lenses automatically darken in bright sunlight and return to a more regular tint in nomal light.

These soft lenses are appropriate for healthy individuals with myopia or hyperopia, and those with certain degrees of astigmatism. Each disposable lens can be worn daily for up to two weeks. However, Dr. Koster warns that while the lenses appear to filter blue light and block UV rays, they are not a subsitute for sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye.

According to a huge new study of 74,044 women age 65 and older, all of whom had cataracts, the 41,735 women who had their cataracts removed had a 60% lower risk of death than those women who did not.[i]

A cataract is a clouding of the lens which forms gradually with age and is the most frequent cause of vision loss for people over 40. Cataract surgery in which the clouded lens is removed and replaced with a new lens is the most common solution to cataracts and is the most frequently performed operation in the US. In fact it is considered one of the most successful surgery in the US today with over a 98% success rate.

Not only does cataract surgery improve vision, it appears to improve longevity. When people can see better, “they can move and get more exercise”, according to Dr. Anne L. Coleman, one of the study’s authors. Visual contrast improves so they are more likely to take their medications correctly and avoid accidents, whether from falling or during driving.

Dr. Koster of NY Vision Group advises not to wait too long once a cataract develops. The longer you wait, the more dense the cataract becomes and the more difficult the operation to remove it. Furthermore, he notes, the sooner you have cataract surgery the sooner you can take advantage of the quality of life improvements Dr. Coleman mentions.

Recent advances in cataract surgery have made the procedure safer, faster and more effective. What used to be a surgery done under general anesthesia in a hospital is now down on an outpatient basis in a procedure lasting approximately 10 minutes. Moreover, new lens options allow for multifocal vision or the correction of astigmatism.

A growing number of studies suggest that poor vision may lead to a decline in cognitive ability. The latest study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that among a representative sample of 2975 older Americans, and a second sample of 30, 202 Medicare beneficiaries, poor vision was associated with poor cognition.[1]

While the study didn’t prove that vision loss caused cognitive decline, according to one of the authors, Dr. Suzann Pershing, “intuitively it makes sense that the less engaged people are with the world, the less cognitive stimulation they receive and the more likely their cognitive function will decline.” The number of Americans with poor vision is expected to double by 2050 so this study highlights the importance of vision screening to identify patients with eye disease to potentially decrease decreased cognition. The JAMA study also noted that hearing loss has also been shown to be associated with cognitive decline and dementia.[2]

Dr. Koster and the American Academy of Ophthalmology strong recommend vision screening for the older population owing to the quality of life impact of available treatments for vision problems and now the potential to prevent poor cognition.

NY Vision Group is pleased to announce that we have opened a new location to better serve our patients in Brooklyn. Our brand new, state-of-the-art facility is located at 279 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237. Dr. Harry Koster, our Harvard-trained, board-certified corneal specialist has performed over 15,000 LASIK procedures and leads up a team of doctors focused on clearing up your vision. We provide comprehensive eye care from contact lens fittings to all vision correction procedures and accept all major insurances.

Call 718 805 0700 to make an eye appointment. The new office is just 3 short blocks from the L train's Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenue stop.

Keep active to stay healthy! Dr. Koster and NY Vision Group don't just promote healthy eyes, we promote healthy lifestyles and this year NY Vision Group/Koster Vision Correction are primary sponsors for Fuoriclasse Racing, a New York-based amateur cycling team. The team practices most mornings in Central Park and races all over New England on the weekends. We are proud to support this dedicated group of athletes.

New Femtosecond Cataract Laser

In our mission to provide patients with the best possible vsion, we pride ourselves on having the most advanced technology and procedures available, combined with superior surgical skills. To further this mission, we have acquired the new Femtosecond Cataract Laser.

This revolutionary technology allows us to use the laser to make all your cataract incisions, correct astigmatism and soften your cataract just prior to the actual cataract removal.

Femtosecond-laser assisted cataract surgery is designed to provide the safest, most precise method for the removal of a cataract. Below are samples of the capsular opening the Femto laser makes to permit access to the cataract. The laser is approximately 10x more accurate than manually performing the same task (as demonstrated by the second set of images)

Femtosecond laser capsulotomy samples

Cataract surgeon (manual) capsulotomy samples

Dr. Harry Koster, One of America's Top Ophthalmologists.

Harry Koster, MD, a board-certified, Harvard-trained ophthalmologist, has been named one of America's Top Ophthalmologists by Consumers' Research Council of America, an independent research team. He was selected based on his experience, training and professional associations. The Consumer's Research Council of America does not accept fees, donations or advertising from any individual, proefessional, corporation or association.

Dr. Koster is pictured above on the PR Newswire/Reuters screen in Times Square, New York.

NY VISION GROUP ACQUIRES WAVELIGHT® EX 500 LASER

NY Vision Group is please do announce that it is the first ophthalmic practice in Manhattan to acquire the WaveLight® EX 500 Laser. This laser is the most technologically advanced vision correction laser available in the U.S. and permits us to provide, in the comfort and convenience of our Manhattan office, a customized wave-front optimized treatment for each of our LASIK patients.

In the past, every LASIK patient received essentially the same type of laser treatment. The WaveLight® EX 500's technology is different. With it, we can create a personalized treatment plan for each patient, accounting for the specific shape and individual attributes of each eye. It is also one of the safest, fastest and most accurate laser available in the United States. Combined with Dr. Koster's 20 years of refractive surgery experience, this superior technology assures the best care possible for our patients.

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.